Sprint's Hero finally gets official Android 2.1 upgrade
By Vlad Savov 
posted May 19th 2010 6:06AM
posted May 19th 2010 6:06AM
Assuming you resisted the temptation to either root your Hero or update it with the recently leaked 2.1 firmware, this is your very first chance to finally slap a dash of Android future on your senescent device. Sprint has at long last made the update available, though it isn't quite yet ready to download from its site. Fear not, the good folks behind the yellow network have put together a guide on upgrading through your phone and we'll link up the download as soon as it's ready for consumption. Time to start enjoying that Google Maps Navigation magic and all the other goodies constituting Eclair's delectable filling.Update: It's now available direct from HTC's website, as well as Sprint's own site. Thanks, all!
[Thanks, Jonathan]
Waste of my life.. the "Leaked" version is exactly identical to this release by HTC.. FAIL!
If only the update brought with it a proximity sensor.*sigh*
BAH! Seems the servers are overloaded. Its taking 45 minutes just to download the 35MB HTCSync update and I can't even get ROM link (btw...ftp for the ROM? ......really?)
Still don't have access to protected apps with the leaked version... If anyone gets the official update let me know if you have access.
For those of you having trouble DLing the update, if the leaked version (also 118mb, same software ID #) truly is the same as the official version then there are plenty of people hosting the leaked version without an overloaded server.
According to the guys at XDA, this is the same rom as the leak from last week. Same as the Eris update, the protected apps should show up shortly.
of COURSE it does....because I just sold mine last week. Oh well...whoever said this was the end of the line as far as updates go for the Hero was correct, so while 2.1 is a lot better than 1.5, at least I won't be stuck with it for years. :-/
I am waiting patiently for that download to appear on this page:
http://www.htc.com/ca/support/hero-telus/downloads/
@seaneffel word on the street is that Telus Hero (GSM version compatible with ATT) will get it's upgrade to 2.1 in June. Seen here:
http://www.telusmobility.com/en/AB/htc_hero_support/
@seaneffel
D/Led the update, HTC Sprint Hero MR 2.27.651.5, and all I got was a cryptic user message. NO JOY!
WTF?!?!???
Looks like we buried them. Anyone have any luck actually downloading it? I have had no joy here. Could someone please introduce HTC to the concept of mirrors? Thanks!
@PhilD41
I'm downloading but its going so slow .......
@superjman89 The FTP site won't even let me log in. Says the password is invalid. Go figure. Looks like they got slammed and closed things down for a while. I am disappointed at how this upgrade is going so far. That is being nice! I expected more from Sprint and HTC!
@PhilD41
Yeah this is ridiculous...It may not be until June before I can get this downloaded...
FUCK. I tried to run it on Windows 7 32 bit, won't run. I got vista at home, so I can't update? I am about fed up with android. grrrrrrr
@sandmanfvr any chance you would upload it to a free host so we could all get our hands on it?
@sandmanfvr
Wow that's crap. Thankfully I have access to all current flavors of Windows OS thought I had planned on performing the upgrade on a Windows 7 x32 OS.
@ferghal I don't know if my is corrupt or not. I am going to redownload.
@sandmanfvr Annnnd, HTC's site gave me a corrupt file. The Mirror below is good and I can run the software.
It's kind of stupid how long it took them to get Eclair out to the Hero. I got sick of waiting and using 1.6, so I went ahead and got the DamageControl release of 2.1 from xda-dev. I'm tell you, each manufacturer should just subcontract out the developers on that forum, they will get their releases pushed out in weeks instead of months.
Protected apps are now available :)
For those of you dying for this update, the leaked rom from about a week ago will work for you just the same as the official update http://www.4shared.com/file/gfPzbRcS/RUU_Hero_C_Sprint_2276515_R_si.html
So, even though this phone is essentially the same as the Eris.
1. Sprint can't manage and OTA update.
2. The update requires wiping all of your apps, unlike the Eris update.
3. Average users will have no knowledge of the update if they don't read sites like engadget.
4. Sprint didn't even bother mirroring the update and HTC's servers are basically slammed.
5. Even though there are no significant error reports on the Eris update, the Hero already has reports of camera issues and bluetooth issues
Congratulations Sprint. I have been a happy customer with no complaints about the update delays until now. I had assumed that you were just taking your time to get it right. How silly of me.
NO LIVE WALLPAPER!
And I can't get out of sense now to have one...
Should've rooted...
Just in time for me to buy my EVO..
What are the protected apps and how do we access them. So glad I installed the leak, avoided the traffic jam of downloaders
Sprint mirror
http://shop.sprint.com/en/software_downloads/pda_smartphone/htc_hero.shtml
http://www6.sprint.com/downloads/htc/executables/htc_sprint_hero_mr_2.27.651.5.zip
@thebigtrav Thanks for the mirror, much faster! Was getting about 20k/second from HTC's site.
I'll be very interested to see that "Android Fragmentation" piechart in a week and see what difference Hero users made to the makeup.
@thebigtrav
Thanks MUCH better. Less than 15mins and should be completely dl. Didnt take Sprint too long for that...
@thebigtrav Thanks, this one worked. Going to try and get this going.
@INsano
From the traffic and comments on this ONE site, I would say it should put a dent in the chart
To anybody running this, can you DROP sense ui on this official release? I think sense ui caused me grief running it before.
You know, people like to moan and complain about how HTC's Sense prevents their phones from getting timely updates but... Samsung's Moment runs stock Android only got 2.1 about a week before the Hero, and it only launched about a month or two after the Hero didn't it? So whose fault was that? Sprint's? Samsung's?
AFAIK the only Android phone that has received really timely updates was the Moto Droid, and that started off at 2.0 to begin with (and it still took a while anyway!)... I'm sure adapting skins or porting extra software really adds much lead time to the process, the biggest roadblock to timely updates seem to be the carriers themselves (and/or perhaps the manufacturers).
Am I wrong? Is there any Android phone that launched with 1.5/1.6 stock and was quickly updated to 2.1 soon after release?
Downloaded with no problem. 2.1 up and running. I have had no issues. Everything seems to be running fine. My one and only minor complaint? The calculator is pretty ugly now.
Finally the release is available! Yay for everyone. Now I need help updating..
1. Do you HAVE to download & install HTC Sync 2.0.33 before running the 2.1 ROM update?
2. Anyone getting USB connection error when trying to run the rom update? The computer says it can't find the android device -_-
HTC Sync it? or mount the device?
@meganfoxx
I'm pretty sure HTC sync provides the necessary drivers so that your workstation will recognize the device. I would install sync and try again.
@funkyboss
Thanks! Yesss I just finished updating. Super excited :D
Been waiting for this update for months!
Evo4g ftmfw!
bib2b
Samsung Moment update is also live on Sprint's site.
If the HTC and Sprint site download is taking to long, I've uploaded the ROM update here: http://bit.ly/99Mj1r
Enjoy. Hopefully we get to see 2.2.. I won't hold my breath though!
iPhone OSX is so much smoother.
@thrash1256
get back under your bridge troll
For those trying to get the HTC Sync 2.0.33 update, you can get it from here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Mobile-Phone-Tools/HTC-Sync.shtml
I'm screwed. Mac user + no OTA update. Awesome, Sprint. Good thing there's only 16 says until the Evo launches.
Just installed the update to my Sprint Hero...and not to my surprise, there is no live wallpapers or HTC Friendstreem... what gives? anyone else having this issue?
I'm having trouble downloading the Sync software, but I grabbed the Rom.
I wasn't expecting Live Wallpapers - the Hero Processor won't be able to handle that and still give you a smooth experience. And I'm not too concerned about updating my Hero to 2.2 - I don't plan on still having it by the time 2.2 is available, not knocking the hero, but with Evo around the corner and whatever else Sprint is cooking up (Rest assured, they are), I'm sure most of us will have a new phone shortly!
Im pretty sure they enabled tethering but not sure
I downloaded the update this afternoon and I've been playing with it all day. Loving it up to now. I wasn't expecting live wallpapers, but I do have to say I'm disappointed with the fact that Friendstream is missing.
So went ahead did the update guess what no damn living wallpaper EVo here I come after all
*KICKSTAND*
This upgrade is a must have Google's navigation alone is worth it now you get 2 free navigation apps but Google's is so simple and up to date. Driving around NY with this is so simple and relaxing it's voice over is loud and clear and accurate it matches what the signs actually say. It's the best navigation experience I have since using Garmin.
so i did the update (had to use vmplayer as VirtualBox wouldn't recognize the phone and for some odd reason they don't support Linux) and although a lot of the issues have been resolved my battery life still sucks. at 11 am this morning i had about 50% of my battery left with little use.
seems like they will never get this phone right.
Is anyone else having issues with Exchange Calendar syncing? Seems like every time I go to the calendar widget it has to reload everything. Everything disappears and then slowly comes back. Are there any special settings with 2.1 that help?
I updated my Hero to 2.1. Love it, but was told Live Wallpapers are not supported! What's the point?!